The forest was still that evening, the air heavy with the scent of pine and earth. Kael had come to cherish the solitude of these evening walks, the quiet space where he could think clearly. After all, his discovery had been overwhelming. His powers had started with something small, lifting stones and twigs with only his mind, and he had marveled at the simplicity of it. But now, he had moved on to something more—something larger.
Kael's hands trembled slightly as he stood on the edge of a small clearing, staring at the smooth surface of a rock in front of him. He had made progress, and he could feel the power inside him growing with every day that passed. What started as an accidental ability had now become something he was learning to control. But now he wondered—could he do more than just move objects? Could he create them?
His thoughts had shifted in this direction over the past few days. He had always seen the world in terms of what could be made or constructed—tools, shelter, things to survive. But what if he could skip the need for raw materials entirely? What if he could create something from nothing?
The idea seemed so impossible, yet it filled him with a strange excitement. And tonight, he would try it.
Kael closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing inward. He had felt this before—the pulse of energy within him, the power that surged and vibrated in his veins. He reached into the air, stretching his mind out to gather the energy around him. It was difficult at first, but with concentration, he felt the faintest shift, as though the world itself was bending to his will.
Then, he imagined it: a coin. A gold coin. He visualized its smooth edges, its bright surface, the intricate designs he had seen on the few coins his family had received in trade over the years. Slowly, he extended his mind to it, concentrating harder.
There was a brief moment of stillness before a small weight appeared in his hand. Kael opened his eyes. His fingers closed around the object. He couldn't believe it, but there it was. A gold coin, gleaming softly in the fading light.
He stared at it in awe. How had he done this? He had created it from nothing—no gold, no tools, no raw materials. Just his mind, and the power that had been growing inside him since that fateful day he first lifted a stone.
Kael sat down on the ground, examining the coin more closely. It looked real—its edges were perfectly smooth, and it had the familiar markings of the gold coins used in the village's currency. Gold was valuable. It was used only for the most important transactions, and Kael knew it was worth far more than the silver or copper coins that were common in their small village.
A thrill ran through him. His ability to create something so valuable could change everything for his family. For as long as he could remember, they had struggled with their modest life. His father, Toran, worked the fields tirelessly, while his mother, Elira, spent most of her days baking bread and tending to the house. His younger sister, Mara, had her share of dreams too, but their life had always been about surviving, not thriving.
Now, Kael had the chance to make a real difference. He could give them something they had never had before—wealth. He could provide for them in a way that would make their lives easier, their burdens lighter.
The thought of their lives changing overwhelmed him. He hadn't meant for this to happen, but the power that had come to him was something that could help them. It was hard to even imagine the possibilities.
But then, a warning niggled at the back of his mind. If anyone found out, the consequences could be dire. This wasn't something to flaunt. There were laws about currency, about how gold coins couldn't simply appear out of nowhere. There was always the chance that someone would notice the sudden influx of wealth and come asking questions.
Kael tucked the coin into his pocket, deciding that for now, he would keep it to himself. It wasn't the right time to share it with anyone—not until he understood it better. He had to be careful.
That night, Kael returned home, the coin still nestled in his pocket. The cottage smelled like fresh-baked bread and the hearty stew his mother had been preparing. His family was already gathered around the table, their faces lighting up as he entered.
"There you are, Kael!" his mother, Elira, called out, smiling. She wiped her hands on her apron before walking over to give him a quick hug. "You've been gone for quite a while today. Is everything alright?"
Kael gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, everything's fine, just thinking," he said. His eyes flicked over to his father, Toran, who was sitting at the head of the table, sipping from a cup of water. Kael's younger sister, Mara, sat beside him, her dark eyes bright with curiosity.
His mother gestured toward the table. "Dinner's ready. Sit, sit—there's plenty for everyone."
Kael sat down, glancing briefly at his parents before looking at Mara, who was already digging into her food with enthusiasm. The warmth of the fire in the hearth and the smell of stew filled the room, but Kael's mind was still preoccupied with the coin.
"How was your day?" his father asked, looking up from his bowl.
"It was fine," Kael replied, trying to keep his voice casual. "I found something interesting in the woods, actually."
His father raised an eyebrow, a curious expression on his face. "Found something? What did you find?"
Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out the coin. He placed it on the table in front of them, careful not to make a show of it. "I found this. In the forest."
Toran's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, inspecting the coin. Elira gasped softly, her hand going to her mouth.
"That's..." Elira whispered. "That's a gold coin."
Kael nodded, though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Yeah. I thought I could bring it back. Maybe it could help. I know things have been tough lately."
Toran picked up the coin and turned it over in his hands, his brow furrowed. "Where exactly did you find this, Kael? Gold isn't something you come across every day."
"I just found it," Kael said, shrugging slightly. "I was walking in the woods, and it appeared. I don't know how or why, but it did."
His father continued to inspect the coin. Kael could see the skepticism in his eyes, but there was no immediate panic. After a moment, Toran set the coin down on the table.
"We'll take it," Toran said slowly, "but you need to be careful, Kael. Gold doesn't just appear out of nowhere. If anyone else finds out about this—"
"I won't tell anyone," Kael interjected quickly. "I promise. I just thought it could help. You've been working so hard, both of you."
Elira gave him a soft smile, though there was still a touch of concern in her expression. "We know, Kael. We appreciate it. But for now, keep this between us. No one needs to know about this coin. If it's real, there could be trouble. We don't want anyone getting suspicious."
Kael nodded, feeling a rush of relief. He hadn't been sure what kind of reaction they would have, but their words were more reassuring than he expected. They weren't angry—just cautious.
His father looked up at him. "We'll keep it quiet, Kael. But don't make a habit of finding coins like this. The last thing we need is for someone to start asking questions."
Kael nodded again, feeling a weight settle on his shoulders. He had made the right choice in keeping the coin a secret, for now at least. But that didn't stop the questions from swirling in his mind. How far could this power of his go? And was it truly wise to keep it hidden for long?
For now, though, he would take the coin, and keep his discovery close. The world could wait until he understood it better. And with his family's blessing—albeit a quiet one—he could rest easy, knowing that for the moment, his secret was safe.